Disclosure: I received a copy of this book; the opinions shared here are 100% mine.
Upon first glance, The Sinners’ Garden may seem like a dark and sullen type of book.  It does seem to have that type of aura in the beginning.  Serious situations such as domestic abuse and extreme poverty lurk within the first few pages of The Sinners’ Garden.  The characters in this book were realistic and tangible — I could almost name people who reminded me of each one.   My heart clutched as I read their sad experiences, making me want to fix things for them.  But there is a Redeemer and he does all things in His time.  The great takeaway from Sinners’ Garden is that God can create that miracle out of a flower that has already wilted.  Do your soul a favor and enjoy The Sinners’ Garden.  Just be prepared for a change of heart!!   

Since I rarely have dedicated time to complete a book in one sitting, it was a bit difficult for me to pick up The Sinners’ Garden and remember what was going on when I left off.  I tend to do better with linear stories that go from point A to point B without switching gears.  The Sinners’ Garden was more of a tripod; three separate stories meet at an apex.  This created a bit more depth but required a bit more concentration on my part.  A good book makes you think, and this one does just that.  I don’t know how anyone could read The Sinners’ Garden and neglect to reflect upon his or her own impact on the world.

It seems irrelevant, but author William Sirls was imprisoned for part of his life.  Instead of hiding from that fact in shame, he uses his books to bring glory to God.   His heartaches and mistakes are found in his characters, their lives made whole through the stories that Sirls creates.  I really enjoy his novels and look forward to reading his books in the future.

Meet William Sirls: Once a senior vice president in a large investment firm, he was incarcerated in 2007 for wire fraud and money laundering. Life lessons involving faith, grace, and forgiveness are evident in his writing. The Sinners’ Garden is his second novel.

Thanks to Litfuse for sending me a copy of this book!